Butterfly Garden to Knowledge Gallery: Hyderabad’s Rashtrapati Nilayam becomes perfect getaway for public

Hyderabad: Over 10,000 tourists have visited Rashtrapati Nilayam in Hyderabad this year have so far.

It is the perfect educational as well as fun outing for children and adults alike as there is much to learn and experience from the tour.

Manager of Rashtrapati Nilayam, Dr. K. Rajani Priya spoke about the new foundation stones being laid at the Nilayam as new attractions.

“We have laid the foundation stones for attractions like a maze garden, children's park, and musical fountains. The works are well underway and should be completed before December” she added.

Kumar Samresh, the public relations representative for Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, led a media tour of Rashtrapati Nilayam near Bolarum on June 15.

The trip is a pioneering endeavor. In the upcoming days, more excursions are scheduled for tour operators, travel agencies, business groups like ASSOCHAM, Telangana hoteliers associations, and organizations like HYSEA and KITEA.

On March 22, the auspicious day of Ugadi, the President essentially declared Rashtrapati Nilayam, Bolarum, Secunderabad, accessible to the public.

Rashtrapati Nilayam is currently open all year round. However, it will be closed in December when the President pays a visit.

Some Present Attractions for visitors at Nilayam:

Nilayam Heritage Building - The heritage building is open to visitors for the first time. In actuality, only the gardens were accessible for 15 days a year, and Warandahs provided views of the building's interior.

The main structure and grounds are now accessible to the public all year long.

During their visit to the south, visitors may take a tour of the ancient building to get a glimpse inside the residence of the president of India. Here, one can view the building's core block, dining room, and presidential wings.

Knowledge Gallery - A knowledge gallery has been set up and is now accessible to the general public. Here, visitors may find out more about the background of Rashtrapati Bhavan and Rashtrapati Nilayam.

Additionally, viewers may view every present that the Presidents have ever received on the domestic and diplomatic fronts.

The many parts of the Indian Constitution are explained in this gallery, and visitors can also get a peek at the duties and responsibilities of the president of India.

Visitors may take pictures with the Buggy and the President's Limousine, which are on exhibit, in the courtyard of the Knowledge Gallery.

Kitchen Tunnel - Visitors can go via an underground tunnel that connects the dining hall to the Nilayam Kitchen. The walls of this ancient tunnel have been beautifully painted using the traditional Cheriyal art of Telangana.

Cheriyal is a village located around 90 km from Hyderabad where Cheriyal art is produced.

“Cheriyal scroll paintings mostly depict narratives from folklore, the Puranas, and the epics. They play a significant role in the villages of Telangana's religious, social, and cultural life” explained Kumar Samresh.

Premises:

Jai Hind Ramp and Flag post points are open for exploration by guests.

The nature path is an added attraction that guests may enjoy together with it. The estate's varied flora will be introduced to visitors through this stroll and nature classes.

Additionally, visitors may learn more about the available fruits, trees, and flowers by scanning the QR codes.

Gardens:

Visitors may take pleasure in the garden's several themes, including the Nakshatra Garden, the Rock Garden, the Herbal Garden, and the Butterfly Garden.

President placed the cornerstones for the Jai Hind Ramp's preservation and repair, as well as the renovation of Step Wells and Dug Wells.

Similar to this, the foundation stones for the replica flag post, visitor facilitation cell, and Shiva statue atop the water cascade at Rock Garden were set. The construction is ongoing.

Maze Garden:

Maze Gardens, Musical Fountain, and Children's Park are being built; the foundation stone was set during the winter Soujurn visit.

Jai Hind Ramp:

A stunning ramp known as the Jai Hind Ramp connects the old step well.

Through several water canals and aqueducts, these step wells have historically provided the majority of Rashtrapati Nilayam's water needs for residential use, cooking, gardening, and other uses.

The office of the President of India is rehabilitating these conventional irrigation systems because of their historical and practical importance.

“In addition to saving water and maintaining historical integrity, the repair and decoration of these step wells would also make them tourist attractions for anyone visiting the Rashtrapati Nilayam campus,” said Dr. Priya.

Historic Flag Post:

There was a 120-foot-tall weather wane cum flag post in the northwest corner of the lawn.

Iron pulleys supported the structure's weight and were installed on a circular platform encircled by long granite stones. It was in a fragile state due to aging, thus it was disassembled for safety reasons.

Now, it is suggested to rebuild the flag post replica with technical assistance from CBRI.

Part of the ancient flagstaff is on exhibit in the Rashtrapati Nilayam complex's knowledge gallery.

Booking Information

Rashtrapati Nilayam has been open to the public since March 22.

For easy access, visitors can book online tickets through the official website of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Bookings can also be made on the spot at the Rashtrapati Nilayam Reception Office. Registration fees for Indian nationals will be Rs. 50 per person and Rs. 250 per person for foreign nationals.

Rashtrapati Nilayam will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on all days except Mondays and other government holidays, with the final admission at 4:00 p.m.

The visit is free for children in government schools up to the 12th grade.

Other Visitor Amenities

- Free Parking

- Cloakroom

- Wheelchair access

- Cafeteria

- Curio shop

- Restrooms

- RO water dispensers throughout the campus

- First Aid set up

-E-cart vehicle facility for Senior Citizens

- Availability of Scholar Guides at all attraction spots